Broadly safe for most visitors, with only routine travel precautions needed. Public health and infrastructure are well developed.
Regional breakdown
Neither official advisory guidance nor official advisory guidance singles out a Spanish region as off-limits. The country is treated as a single travel area, with practical risk varying mostly by city and season. Madrid, Barcelona and Seville draw the bulk of visitors and the bulk of reported pickpocketing. Barcelona's Las Ramblas, the metro on Línea 3, and the area around Sagrada Família are repeatedly flagged by local police for bag-snatching and distraction theft. Madrid sees similar patterns around Puerta del Sol, Atocha station and the Gran Vía. In Seville, the old town and tram routes around Plaza Nueva get the same warnings. The Andalusian coast — Málaga, Marbella and Algeciras — is currently affected by high-speed rail disruption after a January collision near Adamuz in Córdoba province. Services to Málaga and Algeciras remain severely cut back, though most Madrid–Andalusia routes have restarted. Travellers heading to the Costa del Sol should check operator updates before booking connecting trains. The Balearic and Canary Islands, including Mallorca, Ibiza and Tenerife, are not flagged for any specific security concern. Though local authorities continue to push back on alcohol-related incidents in resort zones such as Magaluf and Playa de las Américas.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance last updated its Spain page on 18 February 2026. It does not apply a formal 'advise against travel' wording to any part of the country. The main live alert covers the southern high-speed rail network after the January collision near Adamuz, with knock-on delays to Málaga and Algeciras. The official advisory guidance also reminds travellers transiting via France or Gibraltar to read those country pages first. The official advisory guidance reissued its Spain advisory on 12 May 2025 at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution. The reasons given are terrorism and civil unrest. The notice points to tourist sites, transport hubs, markets, government buildings and places of worship as possible targets. And tells travellers to avoid demonstrations and follow local media. No regions inside Spain are split out at a higher level, and there is no ordered departure status. Both governments therefore treat Spain as a country with normal European baseline risks rather than an elevated-threat destination.
What travellers should know
Pickpocketing is the single biggest practical risk for visitors. Keep wallets and phones in front pockets or zipped bags on the metro, around major stations and in busy tourist streets. Distraction tricks — fake petitions, spilled drinks, helpful 'tourists' offering directions — are common in Barcelona and Madrid. Card cloning at unattended ATMs has also been reported, so use machines inside bank branches where possible. Protests and strikes happen often, especially in Catalonia and Madrid. They are usually peaceful but can block roads, airports and train lines at short notice. Check local news the day you travel. Spain's terrorism threat level remains at 4 out of 5, which is why the US notice mentions terrorism. But there has been no recent major incident. Summer brings wildfires across inland regions and the islands — follow Civil Protection alerts and respect evacuation orders. Driving standards are generally good, but rural roads in Andalusia and Galicia can be narrow and poorly lit. Travel insurance covering medical care, cancellations and any adventure activities is worth arranging before departure. And a GHIC card gives access to state healthcare on the same terms as Spanish residents.